A SOUTHAMPTON student has died suddenly of tuberculosis in the university's halls of residence.

Students at the university who were in close contact with the victim are now being screened for the killer disease.

They are being tested and treated at the Royal South Hants Hospital and other students have been put on alert for symptoms.

The dead student was in his 20s and from Africa.

A university spokesman said today the student had been advised that he may have had the illness before coming to Britain.

He died last week from the disease but details have only emerged today.

Medical experts say it is very rare for someone to die from TB, which attacks the lungs and is passed on through coughing, without displaying prolonged symptoms and getting hospital treatment in time.

Dr Mike Barker, consultant in communicable diseases, said: "The risk to other people is generally low and we are screening the people where the risk is high, so the advice really is get on with your life and don't worry about it."

"But if you're feeling unwell go and see your doctor in the normal way."

At the moment ten students from the university are being screened for the disease.

There are about 30 cases of TB each year in the Southampton and New Forest area.

Medical experts say the student died from pulmonary tuberculosis.

It was not a particularly virulent strain of the disease and they are puzzled as to why the victim did not get hospital treatment in time.

TB is a slow-progressing disease which is easily treated.

However, there have been previous cases of sudden death from TB and sometimes the disease is not even identified until after death.

TB symptoms:

A persistent cough

Feeling tired all the time Weight loss

Loss of appetite

Fever

Coughing up blood

Night sweats

It is also important to remember that a person with TB disease may feel perfectly healthy or may only have a cough from time to time. If you think you have been exposed to TB, get a TB skin test.